BIG ROCKS

   One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of
business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those
students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high
powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled
out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in
front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and
carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

 When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside,
he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he
said, "Really?"

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he
dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work
themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the
group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to
him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied.

He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started
dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left
between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is
this jar full?" No!" the class shouted.

Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began
to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at
the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager
beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your
schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things
in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this
illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first,
you'll never get them in at all."   What are the 'big rocks' in your
life? Your children; Your loved ones; GOD; Your education; Your dreams;
a worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you
love; Time for yourself; Your health; Your significant other. Remember
to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If
you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your
life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and
you'll never have the real quality time you need
to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short
story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life?
Then, put those in your jar first."

Hugs, Gail Vass